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Employment First: Effective January 1, 2014, California enacted Assembly Bill 1041 stating “it is the policy of the State of California that opportunities for integrated, competitive employment shall be given the highest priority for working age individuals with developmental disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disabilities.”
Positive Impacts of Employment:
- Learn new skills in the workforce
- Discover your abilities and talents in the workplace
- Earn your own money
- Meet and interact with other people and build friendships
- Increased awareness and belonging to your community
- Increase confidence, independence, and self esteem
- Learn scheduling and time management
- Explore various career paths to find out which best fits your skills
- Helps you become independent
Competitive Integrated Employment is defined as:
Competitive Integrated Employment is full-time or part-time work where you are paid minimum wage or higher. You receive pay at a rate like other employees without disabilities who have the same or similar types of duties, training, and experience.
- Be paid at least minimum wage
- Work full or part time
- Access to benefits packages (as applicable)
- Integrated alongside those without disabilities
- Opportunities for advancement
View Policy and Practice Models for CIE
How Do I Get Started:
Contact your NLACRC Service Coordinator to request a meeting to discuss your interest in employment and begin to plan your next steps! Begin brainstorming different dream jobs, talk to your family and friends about your different strengths, and determine which job development agency would be a good fit for you.
Look up PIP or Supported Employment Vendors Here
Qualifications to Access Employment Supports:
- Be receiving services from North Los Angeles Regional Center
- 18 years or older
- Have High School Diploma or Certificate of Completion
- Express interest in working and getting support to do so
- Have employment identified as a goal in your Individual Program Plan (IPP)
Employment & Your Individual Program Plan (IPP):
When you explore employment opportunities with your Service Coordinator they can help you find community resources to support your employment goals and help you to identify which employment options and services are right for you. You and your Service Coordinator will develop a person centered goal for employment that is included in your IPP. You can succeed at a job, earn a good wage, meet people on the job, and be more connected with your community with initiative and the right supports, everyone can work.
Employment Programs and Services:
- Community Integrated Training Program (CITP) – Community integration supports individuals to actively engage in their local communities in ways that honor individualized choice. These activities develop connections that can help you develop your skills and can be stepping stones toward competitive integrated employment opportunities.
- Supported Group Employment – A program which provides a full time job coach for individuals working on a small crew at a job site in the community. Provides work experience and foundational employment preparation services that could lead to successful transition to individual employment in the community.
- Paid Internship Program (PIP) – Job Development and Job Coaching are paired to secure an internship through an employer in the community in a job of your choice. The intent of the program is to increase integrated opportunities by gaining employment skills and experience working in the community.
- Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) – CIE is not a service, but rather it is the preferred outcome for all of our employment services. Employment in the community where you regularly interact with your co-workers or public and earn similar wages and benefits directly from your employer.
- Coordinated Career Pathways (CCP) – Coordinated Career Pathways (CCP) is a new service designed for individuals exiting work activity programs, subminimum wage settings, or within two years of exiting secondary education to achieve or advance in competitive Integrated employment (CIE). Two new services are available through CCP, a Career Pathway Navigator (CPN) and a Customized Employment Specialist (CES).
Employment Supports:
- Pre Employment Evaluation – Includes employment skills training, developing a resume, interview practice, and employment assessment to determine support needs and goals for future employment placement.
- Job Development – Identifies work interests through discovery, serves as an advocate and liaison, makes connections with potential employers, identifies potential barriers and job accommodations, and on-going support as needed.
- Job Coaching – On-the-job support to ensure employees are confident in their ability to complete job duties and meet employer expectations. Job coaches help break down instructions, provide reminders, supply advocacy, help learn job tasks/skills, offer redirection, and much more.
What is a Paid Internship Program:
A Paid Internship Program (PIP) is for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities ages 18 and over who want to develop work skills. The program funds up to 1,040 hors per internship for wages and employer costs. PIP can help increase opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE).
What is an Employment First Policy:
It is a policy that makes Competitive Integrated Employment the highest priority; to make regular jobs, with regular pay, a real option for people with developmental disabilities.
View the NLACRC’s Employment First Policy
View California’s Employment First Policy
California CIE Blueprint for Change:
The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), California Department of Education (CDE), and California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) have an agreement in support of the State’s “Employment First” policy and other laws to make employment in an integrated setting, at competitive wage, for individuals with Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) its highest priority.
Visit the Department of Rehabilitation’s Blueprint for Change Website
Employment Services for People with Disabilities During Covid-19
Has your employment been impacted by COVID-19? Have your hours been reduced? Have you lost your job? Are you an essential worker concerned about safety? Disability Rights California (DRC) held a webinar earlier this year that you can find on their website along with many other resources.
View DRC’s Employment Services Webinar and Resources
Transition Planning
Transition planning is based on a student’s preferences, interests, and needs that help move students into a successful life after school. This may include academic instruction, community experiences, planning and preparing for employment, and other post-school living objectives.
View NLACRC’s Life After High School Transition Planning Guide (English)
View NLACRC’s Life After High School Transition Planning Guide (Spanish)
View a list of transition website resources
What is the ABLE act?
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 allows states to create tax-advantaged savings programs for eligible people with disabilities (designated beneficiaries). Funds from these 529A ABLE accounts can help designated beneficiaries pay for qualified disability expenses.
What is CalABLE?
CalABLE is a tax-advantaged savings and investment program designed to help eligible people save for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing their public benefits.
CalABLE accounts can be used for many different disability-related expenses, such as education, employment support, housing, transportation, assistive technology and healthcare.
Visit the CalABLE Website to Learn More
Employment Questions? Ask your Service Coordinator
Employment Program Related Questions? Contact Employment Specialist, Kai Brennan Email: kbrennan@nlacrc.org | Phone: (818) 826 – 2931
Employment Resource Links:
DOR (Department of Rehabilitation) Training Video
SSI & SSDI Work Incentives Video
Incentivos Laborales de SSI & SSDI Vídeo
Work is for Everyone Training Videos
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Why You Should Hire Someone With a Disability – Forbes
How Hiring People with Disabilities Will Make Your Business Stronger – Entrepeneur
